Quarterback Sam Darnold has agreed on a three-year, $110.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks, according to multiple reports.
Darnold had the best season of his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, leading the team to 14 wins and a playoff appearance. He will replace Geno Smith, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Darnold’s deal reportedly includes $55 million in guaranteed money.
The 26-year-old Darnold, selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, had a standout year under the guidance of AP Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell. He threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, posting a passer rating of 102.5. His performance saw him become just the fourth player in NFL history to record 12 games with multiple touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100 or higher in a single season, joining Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes, and Matt Ryan.
Despite his success, Darnold also struggled in critical moments. The Vikings were in contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed but suffered a 31-9 loss to Detroit in Week 18. Minnesota ended up as the No. 5 seed, and in the playoffs, they were dominated by the Los Angeles Rams, who sacked Darnold nine times, intercepted him once, and forced a lost fumble.
As a result, the Vikings are likely to start JJ McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick, at quarterback this season. McCarthy missed the previous season due to injury.
Meanwhile, the New York Jets have reportedly agreed to terms with quarterback Justin Fields on a two-year, $40 million deal. Fields, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft, joins the Jets after the team parted ways with Aaron Rodgers, who struggled with a team undermined by poor ownership and personnel decisions. Fields, who was originally selected by the Jets’ rivals, will now look to revive his career in New York. He will be reunited with wide receiver Garrett Wilson, his former college teammate at Ohio State. Fields has thrown for 7,780 yards, 45 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions in 50 games, including 44 starts. He has also rushed for 19 touchdowns.
In other free agency news, the Los Angeles Chargers are set to bring back edge rusher Khalil Mack with a one-year, fully guaranteed $18 million deal, while parting ways with running back Gus Edwards. Mack, who turned 34 in February, made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons with the Chargers. He has missed only one game over that period, recording 31 sacks and 49 quarterback hits in 50 starts. Edwards was released to create cap space, saving the Chargers more than $3 million against the 2025 salary cap.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are also active in free agency, reportedly agreeing to a one-year, $14 million deal with Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick. The deal includes $12 million in guaranteed money. Reddick, who sat out most of the 2024 season due to a contract dispute with the Jets, was acquired by Tampa Bay last March in exchange for a conditional 2026 draft pick. In addition to Reddick, the Bucs re-signed wide receiver Chris Godwin to a three-year, $66 million contract, keeping him in Tampa instead of pursuing a potentially larger payday elsewhere.
The Washington Commanders made a splash in free agency as well, reportedly agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and acquiring standout offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil in a trade with the Houston Texans. Coming off their best season-to-season improvement in franchise history, going from a 4-13 record to 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game, Washington had over $80 million in salary cap space. They used that flexibility to strengthen their roster by adding Kinlaw and Tunsil, two high-profile acquisitions.
While teams can’t officially sign free agents until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, the moves made so far suggest a busy and impactful offseason for several NFL franchises.
